Paso por la ferretería y compro un destornillador y tornillos.

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Breakdown of Paso por la ferretería y compro un destornillador y tornillos.

• y: and
• comprar: to buy
• un: a

Questions & Answers about Paso por la ferretería y compro un destornillador y tornillos.

Why is it “paso por la ferretería” and not “voy a la ferretería”?

Because pasar por expresses passing by a place or briefly stopping there (often on the way somewhere else). Ir a means you are going to that place as your destination.

• Paso por la ferretería = I’ll swing by/stop by the hardware store.
• Voy a la ferretería = I’m going to the hardware store (that’s where I’m headed).

Does “paso por” mean I actually go inside, or could it mean I just pass by?

By itself, it’s ambiguous: it can mean “pass by” (without entering) or “stop by.” Here it clearly means “stop by,” because the next clause is y compro… (“and I buy…”), which implies going in.

Why is the present tense used (paso, compro) if this is a plan for the near future?

Spanish often uses the simple present for near-future plans or scheduled actions. It can also describe a habitual action, depending on context. Alternatives:

• Near future with “ir a”: Voy a pasar por la ferretería y voy a comprar...
• Simple future: Pasaré por la ferretería y compraré... (a bit more formal or distant).

Could I say “pasaré por la ferretería y compraré un destornillador y tornillos”?

Yes. That’s grammatically correct and uses the simple future. It can sound more formal, planned, or less immediate than the present or “ir a” future in everyday speech.